The celebration of Radha Govinda Jhulana Yatra, or the Radha-Krishna swing festival, is one of the most well-known occasions in the holy town of Vrindavan, India, where Lord Krishna first manifested himself 5,000 years ago. This event lasts 13 days in Vrindavan among the local peasants and residents. It is among the important festivals in Vrindavan and one of the busiest times of the year. Hundreds of thousands of people from nearby towns and villages come to Vrindavan in the auspicious sacred month of Shravana (July-Aug). Simple or extravagant, the swings are frequently made of gold or silver.
The little Utsav-vighraha functioning Deities (Vijay-Utsav bera) are removed from the altar and set on an ornately decorated swing in the temple room in Sri Vrindavan for five days. The Deities are pushed into their swing after receiving the customary arati worship. The congregation’s members are encouraged to take part. Everybody pushes the swing numerous times as the other participants chant Hare Krishna, Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna Jaya Vrindavan, or Jaya Radhe, Jaya Jaya Madhava dayite. They also each donate flower petals and their prayers. Everyone has the opportunity to serve Radha and Krishna nearby during this event, which creates a very lovely mood.
What is the story behind the Radha Govinda Jhulana Yatra?
Radharani once waited for her brother Sridam to pick her up and take her home to her father. She waited, yet there was no trace of Sridam, which made her quite sad.
There was once a visitor from Varsana. Why have they forgotten about me? she requested the man to question her father. She then started sobbing. The individual went to Varshana and informed Vrsabhanu Maharaja of his daughter. When Vrishabhanu Maharaja learned of this, he quickly ordered Sridam to Varshana to fetch Radharani.
Knowing that Jotila, who can be stern at times, would not send Srimati Radharani to Varshana if she did not send gifts, Srimati Radharani’s mother Kirtida prepared numerous gifts for him to send with Sridam.
Jotila initially resisted allowing Srimati Radharani to leave. “No, she can’t leave. She has a tonne of job to do here, and that black boy’s presence creates a lot of danger. She can’t leave.”
The gifts from Kirtida Ma were then handed to Jotila by Sridam. As soon as she realized this, she said, “Okay, she can leave, but only for a few days.”
“After that, Srimati Radharani and Sridam traveled to Varshana in a cart drawn by four bullocks. Radharani began crying as she saw her parents’ palace on the hills and her tears only increased when she saw her parents face to face.
Jhulana-yatra had already begun, and Srimati Radharani began swinging with Her sakhis (friends) at various times during the day and night. However, She was unsatisfied with being by herself without Krsna. Knowing this, Krsna occasionally visited the palace wearing a disguise. He occasionally appeared as a Gopi selling jewelry or lovely garlands. Alternatively, He may have taken on another shape and scheduled a meeting with them in a secluded forest.
Krsna once pushed the swing while Srimati Radharani was seated on the Jhulan. Suddenly, Srimati Radharani was terrified when Krsna pushed the swing with such power that she began to scream, “O Krsna, save Me, save Me!” She gave Him a strong embrace as that transcendental con artist Sri Krsna sat on the swing and reveled in His joy. Why is there so much joy? Because usually, He has to pull a lot of pranks to get Radharani to embrace Him, but in this case, She did so of Her own volition and with no effort from Him. He, therefore, enjoys these swing activities very much.
How is this festival celebrated in other parts of India?
In this holy month of Shravana, the same celebration is celebrated throughout India. For instance, Lord Jagannath’s Utsav vighraha (Madan-Mohan Ji) is celebrated in Jagannath Puri for seven days, from Shravana Shukla Dashami (10th Tithi/phase of the Moon of the light fortnight) to Pratipada (1st Tithi of the dark). On Muktimandap, Sri Madanmohan, the Vijay Utsav (representative deity) of Jagnnath yatra, along with Laxmi and Vishwadhatri, are seated (Jhulanmandap). Worshipers can swing the Lord there and participate in His pleasures. The day of the full Moon, also known as Gamha Purnima or Jhulan Purnima, is observed as Lord Balabhadra’s appearance day.
In Vrindavan, When Does This Festival Start?
It begins in Vrindavan on the Tritya (third day) of the shravana bright fortnight and lasts till the full moon night of the month. The Radha-Krishna Deities in the temples are swinging on a swing during this festival. The Banke Bihari Temple, the Radha-Raman Temple, the Dwarkadish Temple in Mathura, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana are a few of the principal temples where this event is observed.
How is This Festival Celebrated in Iskcon Dwarka?
Following Srila Prabhupada’s directives, it is observed for five days in Iskcon temples. Therefore, the same festival is held to enjoy the Lord and His loving associates, whether observed for four days, seven days, or thirteen days.
This exquisite ceremonial deed from Lord Krishna’s pastimes illustrates how we should serve the Lord to please Him.
How is the Krishna Swing Festival Celebrated?
It’s an intense moment in Jhulan. It is constantly raining, Yamuna Mayi has widened and flooded, and there is a fresh atmosphere for devotees who travel to Vrindavan every day to worship and get Lila-darshan from various temples. In general, the Shravana Masha is in an outstanding mood.
According to devotees, once upon a time, a monarch who was a great devotee of Sri Radha-Raman used to visit Vrindavan in the month of Shravana to support those performances that began out of his desire. He and Sri Radha Krishna must have shared a special bond over the rasa-lilas and theatrical presentation of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Krishna, as it has since become an annual event.
A lovely swing-kunja can be found at each of Vrindavan’s temples, each with its distinctive features, the swinging mood, and the perpetually joyful “Jay Sri Radhe! Jay Sri Radhe!” The once-a-year golden swing darshan of Sri Banka Bihari Ji also took place there.
Some devotees wait till the special aratis at midnight to receive darshan since it would be absurd to try to squeeze in with the hundreds of thousands of people that converge on Vrindavan township during the day to take part in this magnificent event.
Devotees who desire to offer garlands and decorate the temples and Jhulan(s) over the entire week make a nice living by producing the massive quantities of garlands that are used in all the temples. It perfectly illustrates how doing something simple for the Lord’s delight may benefit everyone, whether monetarily, socially, spiritually, or in other ways. Huge quantities of prasadam are prepared, offered to the Deities, and sold for a little donation. Hotels, guesthouses, dharmshallas, taxis, and everyone else is content and happy because they know that by serving the Lord, the source of all, they will meet all of their wants.
Conclusion
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